PLANS to slash firefighter numbers at HM Naval Base Clyde have been branded "a recipe for disaster" by a leading trade union.
Unite says private contractor Capita plans to cut eight posts from the fire safety crew at Faslane and Coulport – a reduction in strength of 15 per cent.
Capita won the contract for fire response services at the base from the Ministry of Defence last year.
Unite has accused Capita of failing to consult on the detail of the new fire services model at the base as well as the "integrated management risk plan".
The union also claims Capita is "set to seek local authority support from nearby fire stations to back fill the specialist safety response".
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Debbie Hutchings, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite has major concerns over the imposed plan by Capita to reduce the fire crew at the Coulport and Faslane nuclear naval bases by eight positions.
"The plans to reduce the fire crew and to replace it with local authority support is a recipe for disaster.
"The decision by Capita appears to have been brought forward purely on a cost basis and the unrealistic expectation that the local authority can back fill these cuts, which is just not possible because specialist training is required at the nuclear naval bases.
"We believe these plans are worse than short-sighted and in fact potentially dangerous, which is why we are asking Capita to abandon this reckless plan and get back to negotiations."
Unite is already engaged in a separate industrial dispute at the naval base with Babcock over pay and bargaining rights related to the MoD's Future Maritime Support Programme.
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A Capita spokesperson said: “We have conducted a thorough review of fire risks at Faslane and Coulport, which considered many factors before we put forward recommendations – including the investment in new technology we are making that will reduce fire risk and improve safety.
“The report’s recommendation to adjust resourcing levels was ultimately approved by Ministry of Defence.
"This followed four successful confirmatory exercises by our on-site fire station crews.
"We are committed to the delivery of better fire risk outcomes for the Ministry of Defence, its personnel, and our firefighters.”
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